News

Tributes for 'A1 bloke' Stathi Katsidis

19th Oct 2010

Herald Sun - Adrian Dunn - Wednesday, 20 October 2010

STATHI Katsidis was remembered as an "A1 bloke, an A1 jockey and an A1 family man" by his peers as the Australian racing industry mourned his shock death.

Katsidis was found dead in his rented Brisbane suburban early yesterday morning by his fiancee Melissa Jackson. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The actual cause of Katsidis' death won't be known until a coroner's report is released.

Katsidis, 31, last season rode a national-high 175 winners, shared the Brisbane jockeys' premiership and won the AJC Derby on Shoot Out, the horse he was to ride in Saturday's Cox Plate.

Friend Danny Nikolic spoke of his devastation at Katsidis' death, but remembered a person he'd spent countless happy times with.

"It's just very, very sad. I wouldn't think he would have had many or any enemies in the jockeys' room," Nikolic said.

"He was a pretty quiet sort of guy, but he was the sort of guy that you could not help but like. It was rare to see him get upset or flustered.

"He was a terrific bloke, an A1 bloke, an A1 jockey and an A1 family man. I know he copped some criticism for some of his Shoot Out rides, but he didn't make too many mistakes.

"Clearly, he was the best rider in Queensland. His record tells you that, his strike rate tells you that."

With Katsidis' previous drug misdemeanors well documented, Nikolic said he noticed how committed Katsidis had become in the past 12 month.

"I remember going to the Ipswich carnival and about three or four of us (jockeys) went out that night, but Stathi just got in his car and drove home. He told me he had to stay focused. It was all credit to him."

Nikolic last saw Katsidis being interviewed on TVN last Saturday where he spoke enthusiastically about coming to Melbourne to ride Shoot Out in the Cox Plate.

"He looked fit, looked good in the eye, seemed on the ball and realistic about the horse's chances," Nikolic said.

"It's very, very sad. I know how close he is to his brother (Michael). They were inseparable. They'd talk every day of the week whether he was overseas or not."

Craig Williams said Katsidis had earned the respect of his colleagues.

Williams said Katsidis' past 12 months, highlighted by his association with Shoot Out and Military Rose, the Magic Millions winner, had been exceptional.

"He won Group 1 races all over the country," Williams said.

"One of the best rides I've seen was his ride on Gold Edition down the straight against Miss Andretti. The shock tactic of splitting sides, I thought, was outstanding."

Melbourne Racing Club committeeman and prominent owner Kevin O'Brien was one of greatest supporters of Katsidis, who rode O'Brien's outstanding mare Gold Edition to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes as well as his grand stayer Ice Chariot.

"We will always have a soft spot for Stathi in our hearts and minds," O'Brien said.

Former Queensland jockey Michael Rodd described Katsidis as a " very kind hearted person".

"He was not a lair, not outspoken and just a really good bloke," Rodd said.